The smell of freshly brewed coffee wrapped around me long before I reached the café.
It was warm, comforting.
The kind of smell that made you believe everything was going to be okay.
I stood outside for a moment, taking a quiet breath before pushing the door open.
A small bell chimed overhead.
The café wasn't particularly busy. A few people sat by the windows with laptops, while others chatted quietly over steaming mugs. Soft music drifted through the speakers, blending with the gentle hiss of the coffee machine.
It felt...
Peaceful.
I joined the end of the short line, smoothing invisible wrinkles from the sleeves of my cream-coloured jumper, my palms were already beginning to sweat.
When the customer in front of me stepped away, the young woman behind the counter looked up and smiled warmly.
"Hi there."
Her smile was genuine enough to calm my nerves a little.
"What can I get started for you?"
"Oh..."
I offered an awkward smile, shaking my head.
